Knee Arthritis

Knee Arthritis

Knee Arthritis Treatment and Surgery in Wayne, Parsippany & Paramus, NJ

Knee arthritis is a common condition where the protective cartilage in the knee joint is worn down and the protective space between the bones decreases.

Knee arthritis is a common condition where the protective cartilage in the knee joint is worn down and the protective space between the bones decreases. This results in bone rubbing on bone, producing irritation and painful bone spurs. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, caused by chronic wear and tear of the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks normal tissue and often effects multiple joints in the body. Posttraumatic arthritis develops after an injury to the knee where change to the joint surface can have long term arthritic effects. Symptoms of knee arthritis include pain and swelling to the knee joint, stiffness, weakness, and a grinding or locking sensation. This diagnosis is often made in our office with a thorough physical exam and x-rays. There is no cure for arthritis and therefore treatment is centered around symptom relief often in the form of lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, NSAIDs, braces and/or cortisone injections. In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, immunosuppressant medication may be prescribed. We also offer hyaluronic acid injections (i.e. Synvisc, Orthovisc) to help alleviate knee arthritis symptoms; these injections are a viscous gelatinous substance that helps increase lubrication in the joint. If conservative treatment does not help and daily living is affected, a partial or total knee replacement (arthroplasty) may be indicated. Please see our “Treatments” section for more information on knee arthroplasty.